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Top 10 snow-sure ski resorts - Europe

These ski resorts are among the safest bets in the Alps.

They might not have the highest natural snowfall, but what snow they do get tends to stick around, and stay in good nick.

Key factors for snow retention and quality include altitude, aspect and geographical location. Resorts set deep within the Alps tend to hold on to their snow better than those on the edge –
especially the northern edge where the warming effect of the Gulf stream is strongest (read more).

In no particular order...

1. Val d'Isère/ Tignes, France

Resort height:

1850/2100m

Slopes:

1550-3455m (Espace Killy)

Pistes:

Usual season:

300km (Espace Killy)

Late November to early May*

Photo: Agence Nuts - Val d'Isère Tourist Office

L'Espace Killy is often regarded as having the most reliable snow in the Alps, primarily due to the extent of high altitude skiing (60% of its 300km of slopes are above 2500m).

Although it's on the northern side of the Alps, its proximity to the Italian border means that snow can also arrive from the south-east, a privilege not extended to other nearby mega-resorts such
as Courchevel or La Plagne. Throw in a couple of glaciers and nowhere else in Europe can offer such a variety of snow sure
slopes for such a long season.

* Val d'Isère re-opens its glacier from mid-June for about six weeks. Tignes reopens its glacier from late June
for about eight weeks, then again from late September through to the main season. Tignes also extends its main season for one week longer than Val d'Isère in May.

2. Val Thorens, France

Not only is it the highest resort in Europe, but its slopes reach 3200m and include two small glaciers. Add to that plenty of shady north-facing terrain and comprehensive snow-making facilities
and it's easy to see why it is one of the safest bets in the Alps.

3. Cervinia, Italy

Despite the westerly aspect of its main slopes (they get a lot of afternoon sun) Cervinia is comfortably the most snow-sure of the major Italian
resorts.

Height is key. The village sits at 2050m with slopes reaching 3450m (3820m if you countZermatt). Nowhere else in Italy comes close to offering this extent of high altitude terrain. Nor, if you
includeZermatt, does anywhere else in Italy offer such extensive
glacial terrain.

4. Saas-Fee, Switzerland

If the limited extent of the slopes doesn’t bother you, then few resorts offer greater snow reliability than Saas-Fee.

Granted, this corner of Switzerland is rather dry, but with most of the slopes between 2500 and 3500m, its average skiing height is unrivalled in the Alps. It also boasts one of Europe’s
finest glaciers.

*Glacier skiing is available from mid-July right through to the main winter season.

6. Hintertux, Austria

Resort height:

1500m

Slopes:

1500-3250m

Pistes:

Usual season:

86km

365 days a year

Photo: Tourist Board Tux-Finkenberg

We would normally consider glaciers too limited in extent to warrant a Top 10 entry. However, not only doesHintertux have one of the best glaciers in the Alps, but it also has some
additional non-glacial terrain which is also high, shady and very reliable for snow.

It still doesn't add up to a huge amount of skiing, but if you were hedging your bets (at any time of year) Hintertux might be the place to do it.

8. Andermatt, Switzerland

Resort height:

1445m

Slopes:

1445-2965m

Pistes:

Usual season:

125km

Late November to late April

Andermatt has a big reputation for snow that few Alpine ski resorts can rival. Key to this is the way it
benefits from storms arriving from different directions. The resort is equally likely to get dumped on from the north, the west or the
south, and is therefore an excellent place to hedge your bets.

The main Gemsstock mountain is also high and shady, so the snow that does fall sticks around, and is often in good condition.